Ant-Man & The Wasp Set Photo Reveals Comic In-Joke

The latest set photo from Ant-Man & the Wasp teases a nod to the comics and hints at multiple story threads. While Marvel still has three films to go until the sequel to 2015’s Ant-Man hits theaters, the movie is currently in the midst of production. With a new synopsis that kicked of filming recently, more information and looks at the film have been pouring in over the past few weeks.

Yesterday, we got our first set photos from Ant-Man & the Wasp, showing the first film’s trio back together. Following the events of Civil War, there’s no telling where Scott will be when we next see him. Before he has a chance to go on another solo mission—or rather, partner up with the Wasp—he’ll have to help save the world from Thanos in Avengers: Infinity War. While Ant-Man wasn’t on the recent poster for the film, we know he’s slated to appear. And once he’s done stopping the biggest threat the MCU has ever faced, he’ll be going back to being a small-time hero.

A Reddit user has a posted a new set photo from Ant-Man & the Wasp that teases where Scott Lang will be at in the new movie, while also nodding to the hero’s most recent arc from the comics.

Kicking off in 2015, Nick Spencer and Roman Rosanas brought Scott back to his lowest point, but with plenty of good cheer. Relocating to Miami to watch-over (aka spy on) his daughter Cassie, Scott starts a business called Ant-Man Security Solutions that employs a number of D-list villains. Along the way, he has an unhealthy relationship with the new Beetle, battles against the Cross family, and contends with two new apps that let supervillains hire henchman.

The latter bit is one of the more clever concepts in recent comics and would be hilarious to see on screen. Most of the other threads, meanwhile, have already been teased for the new movie. Though the security company in the photo doesn’t bear the superhero’s name, ‘X-Con’ serves as both a pun and a hint that Scott could be recruiting other people recently out of prison. Not only does it tie into the comics, but it could allow for some slight social commentary. After all, Ant-Man is a hero who’s been imprisoned twice.

We also know Cassie will factor into the new movie, as she was featured on the recent SDCC poster. Meanwhile, Walter Goggins will be playing an employee of Cross Technologies, possibly setting up the elder Cross entering the picture and seeking revenge for his son’s defeat by Ant-Man. A recent casting report also featured a call for ex-cons, possibly the people Scott will recruit for his new venture.

All of this is speculation at this point, but if nothing else the set photo indicates the minds behind the movie have been reading the comics as they craft Ant-Man & the Wasp.

KEY RELEASE DATES
Spider-Man: Homecoming release date: Jul 7, 2017
Thor: Ragnarok release date: Nov 3, 2017
Black Panther release date: Feb 16, 2018
The Avengers: Infinity War release date: May 4, 2018
Ant-Man & The Wasp release date: Jul 6, 2018
Captain Marvel release date: Mar 8, 2019
The Avengers 4 / Untitled Avengers Movie release date: May 3, 2019
Untitled Spider-Man: Homecoming Sequel release date: Jul 5, 2019